Chapter 459: On the run

Electra's POV

The underground prison smelled like rust, mold, blood, and something rotten that had probably been left down there for years. The deeper Penelope and I walked into the prison halls, the colder the air became, and the sound of our footsteps echoed loudly against the walls. Torches burned weakly on the walls, barely lighting the place properly, and the entire atmosphere felt heavy enough to suffocate a person. Honestly, I liked it. It felt fitting for someone like Jella.

Behind me, Penelope kept looking around nervously every few seconds like she expected someone or something to jump out from the shadows and attack her. The prison guards had already moved out of the way the second they saw me approaching, and not one of them had dared to ask questions. I could hear Penelope breathing quietly behind me before she finally muttered, "This place is creepy as hell."

I rolled my eyes without even bothering to look back at her. "Then maybe you should have stayed in class instead of following me around like a lost dog," I responded flatly while continuing to walk forward. "I already told you I didn't invite you here, so stop complaining and disturbing me."

Penelope let out an annoyed scoff behind me, but surprisingly, she kept quiet after that. Eventually, we arrived in front of the cell where she was being kept, and the moment my eyes landed on her, satisfaction immediately spread through me. Jella was lying on the dirty prison floor wearing the same dress she had been arrested in, except now it was wrinkled, stained, and torn at the edges. Her hair was a complete mess, her face looked pale, and there were dark circles under her eyes like she had not slept properly since she was thrown down here.

She looked horrible, and I loved it. She looked small, weak, and miserable, and it almost made me smile.

I deliberately cleared my throat loudly, and Jella slowly opened her eyes before turning her head toward the bars. The second she saw me standing there, her expression darkened immediately into a deep frown filled with pure hatred.

"Are you here to mock me?" she asked bitterly, slowly sitting herself up on the floor. Her voice sounded rough and tired, but there was still that same venom inside it. "Because if that's the case, then just leave already."

I let out a scoff and crossed my arms over my chest while staring down at her. "Why would I waste my time doing that?" I asked calmly. "Do you really think I came all the way down here just to laugh at you sitting in a cell?"

Jella glared at me without saying anything, and I tilted my head slightly before continuing.

"Did you honestly think I was just going to leave you down here after everything you've done?" I asked her. "After you killed my father?"

At the mention of my father, something twisted painfully inside my chest again, but I ignored it. I was getting sick and tired of my emotions attacking me whenever I thought about him, and I hated that I still could not fully control it.

Jella let out a dry, bitter laugh before leaning her head back against the wall behind her. "If you came here to kill me, then stop dragging it out and just do it already," she muttered tiredly. "You've already ruined everything. What exactly are you waiting for?"

For a few seconds, I simply stared at her quietly before a small smirk slowly formed on my face. "Kill you?" I repeated softly. "No, that would be far too easy for someone like you."

Jella's brows furrowed slightly as she looked back at me with confusion, and I slowly stepped closer to the bars of the cell. "I actually came here to offer you something," I said. "A once in a lifetime opportunity."

Penelope shifted awkwardly behind me, probably already realizing that whatever I was about to say was definitely not normal. Honestly, I did not care.

Jella narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "What kind of opportunity?"

I smiled wider. "I'm going to let you run."

Jella stared at me like she was trying to decide whether I had finally lost my mind. Then she laughed bitterly again. "You're mocking me."

"No," I replied immediately. "I'm serious."

I slowly crouched down slightly so I could look directly at her through the bars. "I'm willing to give you one chance to escape," I told her calmly. "If you manage to run far enough away from me, then I'll let you leave the palace alive. You can disappear somewhere nobody knows you, hide for the rest of your miserable life, or maybe spend years planning revenge against me if that makes you happy."

Jella continued staring at me in disbelief while Penelope looked equally stunned behind me. "What kind of nonsense are you talking about?" Jella demanded angrily. "Do you think this is funny?"

I could not help the small laugh that escaped me. "You know," I said thoughtfully, "I realized something recently. Death is too merciful for certain people. Some people deserve fear instead, and they deserve to spend every second wondering if someone stronger is coming for them."

Jella's jaw tightened.

"So yes," I continued, smiling at her, "I want to play a little game with you."

Her face darkened further. "You're insane."

"Maybe," I admitted easily. "But the game is simple. Let's call it On The Run, and it's a simple game where you are the criminal trying to escape, and I am the seeker chasing after you."

Penelope finally stepped closer behind me. "Electra," she started cautiously, sounding deeply concerned now. "What exactly are you…"

I lifted my hand slightly, silencing her without looking away from Jella. "You should feel honored," I continued smoothly. "Most people don't get offered mercy, but I'm gracious enough to give it to you."

Jella slowly stood up from the floor, though she still looked exhausted and weak from being locked down there. Even standing in front of me now, she still tried to hold onto some form of dignity, but it was obvious prison had already started wearing her down mentally.

"You expect me to believe this?" she asked coldly. "You expect me to believe you'd actually let me go?"

I shrugged lightly. "Believe whatever you want, but I'm offering you a choice."

Her eyes searched my face carefully like she was trying to figure out if I was lying or planning something worse. She folded her arms tightly over herself before letting out a sharp breath. "And if I refuse your ridiculous game?"

"Then you stay here," I answered simply. "Rotting underground until I eventually decide what to do with you. I'll have the palace guards gather as many rats and insects possible, maybe even all the rats in the kingdom, and they will serve as your humble companions until you finally get the courage to kill yourself."

She stared at me silently again, and I could practically see the hatred burning in her eyes. If looks could kill, I was pretty sure I would have been dead several times already.

"You really are your mother's daughter," she finally muttered bitterly.

At the mention of Solara, my expression immediately darkened. "No," I said coldly. "From what I've heard, my mother was kind. Clearly, I'm not."

Jella's eyes flickered slightly at my response.

I slowly straightened back up to my full height before staring down at her again. "So think carefully," I told her quietly. "Because this is the only chance at freedom you'll ever get from me."